Pistons have made their home in the suburbs - OUR OPINION

We won't begrudge business tycoon Dan Gilbert for publicly suggesting the Detroit Pistons should move the team downtown.

We just don't agree.

His comments at a recent breakfast meeting at the Detroit Athletic Club, at best, are a reflection of his interest in pumping more dollars into a city in which he has invested millions, including a recent partnership into the Greektown Casino.

Advertisement

At its worst, it is another coal on the fire flaming between downtrodden Detroit and its prosperous surrounding suburbs.

His comment that arenas "don't belong on farmland in the suburbs" is insulting to those who live, work, shop, seek entertainment and enjoy the hometown feeling of their communities.

We understand that Gilbert, who owns the Cleveland Cavaliers, thinks moving the Pistons would boost downtown Detroit.

But we would counter that having a couple of casinos in Oakland and Macomb counties would also spark the surrounding local business economy.

Bill Davidson, who bought the Pistons in 1974 for what now seems like a paltry $6 million, knew what he was doing when he built The Palace of Auburn Hills and before that moving the team from Detroit.

The location off Interstate 75 makes it attractive and easily accessible from the Flint and Saginaw areas, hotbeds of basketball fans.

And unlike most sports franchise owners, Davidson built the Palace with his own money, never seeking government handouts to cover construction costs.

And while Palace Sports and Entertainment, which was purchased by Tom Gores nearly two years ago -- following Davidson's death in 2009 -- could succeed even without the Pistons, Gilbert should concern himself with his own business ventures, rather than making untimely suggestions for others.

Owner Gores, hopefully, is more interested in returning the Pistons to its championship days, rather than moving the team from its expanded and renovated home.?